Experiencing flashbacks, feeling stuck, hypervigilant or totally numb?
Get support for your PTSD symptoms with EMDR treatment
ieso is an NHS Talking Therapies provider, our service is free and confidential for people aged 17+ and registered with a GP in Surrey. Click the button below to get started.
What is EDMR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy treatment that helps people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to process and recover from traumatic events.
EMDR is a little bit different from the kind of therapy that most of us are used to hearing about. You still talk through your thoughts and feelings, but you also use eye movements (and sometimes sounds and tapping) to stimulate your brain and process your trauma.
This process helps the brain reprocess traumatic experiences, reducing their emotional impact and can help memories become ‘unstuck’ so that we’re able to process them and put them behind us.
One-to-one video session with your matched therapist
Flexible appointments to suit you
(7 days a week, 6am-11pm)
No long wait times
Access support within days
No need to see a GP first
you self-refer direct
Confidential
Therapy sessions take place via ieso’s secure online platform
No travel required
Sessions can take place anywhere you feel most comfortable, so there is no need to travel to your appointment
All you need is a video enabled device
that can connect to the internet
How do I know if EMDR therapy is right for me?
Lots of us struggle to talk about our mental health and past traumas. If you’re someone currently experiencing PTSD, due to a single traumatic event, and finding it difficult to open-up, you may find EMDR a comfortable choice of therapy
Once you refer, ieso’s clinical team will work with you to ensure this treatment is right for you. It may be that an alternative form of therapy will be recommended, for example, CBT
How does EMDR therapy work?
To understand how EMDR therapy works, first we have to understand how PTSD trauma works.
1. Processing information
Usually, our brains are great at processing information and filing away our memories. But, when we’re in a situation where we feel extremely scared or distressed, this system can shut down and temporarily stop working.
2. Organising thoughts
Instead of our thoughts and feelings about the event being organised and stored away so that we can move on, the memory can become ‘stuck in time’. It’s like your brain hasn’t grasped that the event is in the past and you’re no longer in danger. So, if something reminds you of the traumatic experience, like a smell or a sound, you’re taken right back to relive that moment, as if it’s happening again now.
3. Becoming unstuck
This is where EMDR comes in; EMDR can help memories become ‘unstuck’ so that we’re able to process them and put them behind us. During an EMDR therapy session, your therapist will ask you to bring the traumatic memory to the front of your mind, then they will move their finger from side to side and ask you to follow it with your eyes.
4. Making sense
While your therapist talks you through the traumatic memory, the left to right motion stimulates both sides of your brain and mimics what happens when we’re in REM sleep (AKA the time when our mind sorts information and memories) so that your brain can make sense of the memory and file it away.
5. The healing process
This jumpstarts the healing process; your brain can now recognise that the event is behind you, and over time, the memory will become less potent and vivid, so that it’s not as distressing to think about.
6. Moving forward
EMDR can’t erase traumatic memories, but it can help you to get to a point where the event has less power over you, your symptoms are more manageable and they no longer disrupt your life.
Supporting people in Surrey
ieso is working in partnership with Surrey NHS Talking Therapies, providing free and confidential therapy to people aged 17+. It’s quick and easy to access our service, with no need to see your GP first.
Simply click on the self-refer button to answer a few questions via our online referral chat, and you can have your first session within days.
How do I know if I have PTSD?
PTSD typically results from a single traumatic event (e.g., a car accident,
assault, or natural disaster).
Main symptoms of PTSD include:
1. Intrusive Memories
- Flashbacks (reliving the trauma)
- Nightmares or distressing dreams
- Unwanted, recurring memories
- Intense emotional or physical reactions to reminders
2. Avoidance
- Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the trauma
- Avoiding places, people, or activities that trigger memories
3. Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood
- Persistent negative thoughts about oneself or the world
- Feelings of guilt, shame, anger, or fear
- Emotional numbness or detachment from others
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions
4. Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions (Hyperarousal)
- Being easily startled or frightened
- Constantly feeling on edge or “on guard”
- Irritability or angry outbursts
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Engaging in risky or self-destructive behaviour
Welcome to your therapy room
A confidential space where you will meet with your therapist, and message in-between your sessions.
Stay connected
We know emails often get lost or missed when sitting in our inbox, which is why we will contact you through SMS. You can choose and book your therapy sessions once you self-refer, with your first one-to-one session taking place in a matter of days.
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All of your messages in one place
Send and receive messages and documents with your therapist during and outside of your sessions, so everything can be easily found in one place.
EMDR for the treatment of PTSD with ieso may not be suitable for those who:
Have a diagnosis of Complex PTSD
PTSD as a result of combat
Diagnosis of personality disorder
Active substance misuse or eating disorder
Active and current severe and enduring mental health difficulties (bipolar disorder, psychosis, borderline personality disorder)
What people say
We’ve helped thousands of people feel better. Here are their stories of recovery and growth.
I felt comfortable taking with my therapist. The homework I had made sense, and it did help... and it continues to help. We explored my past, and I became more aware of my triggers and began to analyse my fears more productively.
The weekly sessions were structured and focused. The exercises really helped me understand how my brain was working in a negative way. I was able to think through the sessions with no pressure.
I found joining sessions on my phone simple and easy. It also allowed me to work therapy around my life, as you can pick a suitable day and time for you.
The activities helped me to understand the cycle I was in and gave me the skills to learn how to get out of that cycle.
Everything was carried out with the utmost professionalism. My therapist was kind, patient and at no point did I feel uncomfortable explaining my situation.
Typed therapy worked well for me. I could arrange the sessions at a time that suited me. I felt at ease in my own home so was able to be open and honest without feeling judged
People often ask us...
It’s natural to have an interest in your treatment. People often want to know what we do, how it works and whether it will work for them. Here’s our take on some of the questions we often come across.
The time it takes from sign-up to first session with a qualified clinician is usually around 10 days (although in very busy periods it can take a little longer).As soon as you’ve been referred or have self-referred to us, you’ll be able to create and activate your ieso account and complete a self-assessment.We’ll then check we have all the information we need to match you with a therapist. We ask that you provide this information to make sure ieso is a suitable service for the support you need. Information we require include:
- Details of your GP
- Your home address and a few other personal details that we collect on behalf of the NHS
- Your mobile number
- When you’re available to have sessions
- Your completed self-assessment questionnaires
Once we’ve checked your information and are sure this is the right service for you, you will be sent an SMS link to book your first session. (If our service isn’t suitable for you for any reason, we’ll contact you to explain why and give you details of a local service that can help.)
The site is simple to navigate, so even if you don’t consider yourself an expert in technology, if you can use the internet you’ll be okay. Our therapy is accessible via computer, tablet or smartphone. When you first log into the ieso therapy site there are helpful guides which you may wish to read before you start your therapy sessions. Our Patient Services team are available to help if you have any issues with the therapy site, Monday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm.
As we’re an online therapy service, the communication you have with your therapist is through written messages on our therapy site.In your dedicated online therapy room, you will attend your regular sessions, but you can also send and receive messages and documents with your therapist outside of your sessions, so every message and document can be easily found in one place.You will receive SMS updates when a session is booked / or cancelled and reminders to complete your questionnaires.
We totally understand that when you just want some help, completing questionnaires can be frustrating. We wish there was another effective way. Unfortunately, we can’t safely allocate you a therapist and start your treatment until all the assigned questionnaires are complete.The questionnaires help your therapist understand you and your current state of mind. And they’ll help you to check your progress and flag up any problems. The NHS also requires everyone to complete these questionnaires. This is why, throughout your therapy, you'll be asked to complete the questionnaires before each session.
Supporting people in Surrey
ieso is working in partnership with Surrey NHS Talking Therapies, providing free and confidential therapy to people aged 17+. It’s quick and easy to access our service, with no need to see your GP first.
Simply click on the self-refer button to answer a few questions via our online referral chat, and you can have your first session within days.